How Glass Bottles and Jars are Made
When lightning strikes sand, nature makes glass. For more than 100 years, O-I Glass has recreated Mother Nature’s magic by combining natural materials and heat to make glass bottles and jars. Our passion for making glass lies in its endless benefits, from the health of the planet to the health of families. We love glass.
Glass Container Manufacturing Process
Inspecting Glass Bottles and Jars
Each glass bottle and jar is put through a series of inspections to ensure it meets O-I’s highest standards. Multiple high-resolution cameras inside machines scan as many as 800 glass bottles each minute. The cameras sit at different angles and can catch miniscule defects. Another part of the inspection processes includes machines exerting pressure on the glass containers to test wall thickness, strength and if the container seals correctly. O-I’s experts also manually and visually inspect random samples to ensure quality.
If a glass bottle or glass jar doesn’t pass inspection, it goes back into the glass manufacturing process as cullet. Containers that pass inspection are prepared for transportation to food and beverage manufacturers, who fill them and then distribute to grocery stores, restaurants, hotels and other retail locations for shoppers and customers to enjoy.
Glass is endlessly recyclable, and a recycled glass container can go from the recycle bin to store shelf in as little as 30 days. So once consumers and restaurants recycle their glass bottles and jars, the glass manufacturing loop starts again.
Inside the O-I Glass Making Process
If you want to see O-I’s glass manufacturing process in action, head to our interactive experience: Inside the O-I Glass Making Process.
Watch The Glass Making Process